One of five runners for Tony Gollan in Saturday's Listed Gordon's Gin Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich, the 4-year-old Spirit Of Boom mare Bezique has been set a stiff task with 58kgs from an outside barrier.
Bezique has paid her dues as a runner-up in the Listed Bill Carter Stakes, Listed Bright Shadow Stakes, and Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes.
A $475,000 purchase for Black Soil Bloodstock/John Foote Bloodstock/Gollan Racing from the Strawberry Hill draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the daughter of Spirit Of Boom has a record of four wins and three seconds from 12 starts with earnings of $225,950.
A half-sister to Listed winner Eawase (Sebring) and Group III-placed Sensical (Zoustar), Bezique is the daughter of the flying Not A Single Doubt mare Karuta Queen.
A $30,000 Magic Millions purchase for Glenn Williams, Karuta Queen was an early favourite for the Golden Slipper when reeling off four consecutive wins for trainer Neville Layt, culminating with an emotional victory in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic.
Some gloss went off when she was beaten as a long odd-on favourite in the Black Opal Stakes, and she finished 10th in Sepoy's Golden Slipper.
The following season, the flashy chestnut won the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m), the Group III Australia Stakes (1200m) and a second behind Black Caviar in the Group II Schillaci Stakes (1000m), albeit at a safe four and a quarter lengths.
Karuta Queen again chased Black Caviar home in the Group I William Reid Stakes with her future beau Spirit Of Boom back in sixth.
By this time, she was in the Peter Moody stable, sporting the colours of John Singleton, who had purchased the daughter of Not A Single Doubt in a private transaction after she failed to meet her reserve at the National Broodmare Sale.
Karuta Queen now takes her place alongside some of the world's most valuable horse flesh at Yulong after selling for $600,000 at the 2023 Strawberry Hill dispersal. She was carrying a Zoustar filly and was covered in December by Pierata.
Karuta Queen was the best of eight winners from the speedy Final Card mare Card Queen. Her five wins were highlighted by her victory over Northeast Sheila, Dance Baby Dance, Miss Pennymoney and Cloister in the Group III Blue Diamond Prelude.
At the Strawberry Hill Dispersal, Karuta Queen's weanling brother to Bezique was sold to Mick Price Racing & Breeding for $280,000. He has been named Poker, while Karuta Queen's 3-time winning daughter Oh Please Dianna was another heading to Yulong after being knocked down for $375,000.
